Lister (surname)

Lister, Lyster
Pronunciation/ˈlɪstər/ LISS-tər
Origin
Word/nameEnglish
Other names
Variant form(s)Lester, Lestor, McInlester, McLeister, Laister, Litster, Lidster, Ledgister Ledster
Lister coat of arms, Thomas Lister of Westby, County York, England. Taken from "Lyster Pioneers of Lower Canada and the West",[1] which credits Thomas Lyttleton Lyster Denny's 1913 work, "Memorials of an ancient house".

Lister or Lyster is an English occupational surname, and may refer to a textile dyer, from the Middle English word "litster", meaning to dye.[2] It dates back to the 13th century in Scotland with the recording of Aleyn le Littester of Edinburghshire who rendered homage to the Interregnum government in 1296, and to the 14th century in England (Richard le Lyster appears in the Subsidy Tax Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327).

The name probably comes from the Old Norse verb 'lita', meaning 'to dye' and rendered as 'lystare' in English. The noun for 'dyer' was 'litster' (Scottish), 'lit(t)e' (middle English), or 'lister' (English). The word was also associated with a 'salmon spear', rendered 'lyster' (Danish) or 'lister' (English). A 1533 Act of Parliament stated, "No person shall take in any crele, raw web, lister.... the young fry of salmon."

The name took hold in areas of England in the 16th century known for the woollen industry, mainly Yorkshire, but also Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

The name came to Ireland following the Cromwellian campaign of 1649, and took root in County Laois, rendered by the English as Queen's County.


  1. ^ Lyster Pioneers of Lower Canada and the West, 1984, p. 303
  2. ^ Lister family name database